PPP PROJECTS | Marcos eyes private-public partnerships for infrastructure projects

July 8, 2022 , 09:37 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(July 8, 2022) – President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration planned to go back to pursuing private-public partnerships (PPP) for key infrastructure projects as the government grapples with limited funds and mounting national debt, the socioeconomic planning secretary said on Friday.

Arsenio Balisacan, director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the government should look into the private sector who are interested in partnerships, while it still has a limited budget that it could use for building infrastructure.

“We need to revive, to enhance the PPP,” said Balisacan, who also served in the Aquino administration that promoted the same PPP program. “That will also ease the pressure on our fiscal space so we can have more resources for our social sector, particularly support for health, education, and social protection.”

A PPP involves a private business sealing a deal with the government to build infrastructure projects, and allow them to operate these projects for a number of years agreed upon by the two parties before transferring ownership to the government.

Some of the government’s PPP projects include the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and the Skyway Stage 3 project with San Miguel Group.

Based on NEDA’s list, there were a total of 112 completed and ongoing infrastructure flagship projects under former President Rodrigo Duterte as of last May. Of these, 30 have been funded through PPP agreements.

Over half or 56 of these projects are funded through official development assistance (ODA), which includes loans and grants from other countries such as China and Japan, or lenders such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Another 27 projects are funded by the national budget.

Balisacan said the goverment would ideally want PPPs to consider solicited public investment projects, which refers to projects called for by the government, and make them responsive to the private sector, while allowing some leeway for unsolicited projects.

In his inaugural speech, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised to present “comprehensive infrastructure plans” to carry on Duterte’s ambitious flagship “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

His goal might face challenges as the Philippine government grapples with a narrowing of fiscal space further compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s outstanding debt is at P12.5 trillion as of May, based on data from the Bureau of Treasury.

(MM | With reports from Gerard dela Pena, News 5)

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